(Born; Venice, 1533; Died; there, 30 Aug 1585). Italian composer. Possibly a pupil of Willaert, in 1557-8 he was organist of S Geremia, Cannaregio, and in 1562 was working in Munich, where he met Lassus. In 1566 he became organist of St Mark's, Venice, where he remained all his life. A prolific and exceptionally versatile composer, he was a leading figure in Venice, respected as a performer and teacher, 1576) and psalms (1583), as well as secular and instrumental works (1566-80); many pieces were published posthumously by his nephew Giovanni. He is chiefly famous for his sacred ceremonial music (notably Concerti, 1587), in which he brilliantly exploited the architecture of St Mark's, separating voices and instruments into cori spezzati to create imposing stereophonic effects, a style that greatly influenced other Venetian and German composers. His madrigals are more lightweight and homophonic than others of the time, some showing Lassus's influence.Sacred musicCirca; 130 motets, many in Concerti (1587); 7 masses (1 inc.); psalmsSecular vocal musicCirca; 190 madrigals; choruses for the tragedy Edippo Tiranno (1588); 3 mascheratas (1601)Instrumental musicover 50 canzonas, ricercares, preludes, toccatas, kbd; 3 org masses, ensemble ricercares; battaglia for wind(c)Groves Dictionaries, MacMillan Publishers Limited, UK

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